Multi-tiered rack



D. M. JAMES 2,721,663

MULTI-TIERED RACK 3 Sheets-Sheet l i I I 1 aw E. w

I w o 7 it fltv tto o Oct. 25, 1955 Filed Dec. 14, 1953 Oct. 25, 1955 D. M. JAMES MULTI-TIERED RACK 3 SheetsSheet 2 Filed Dec. 14, 1953 M w 8 i 2 Oct. 25, 1955 Filed Dec. 1 1955 D. M. JAMES MULTI-TIERED RACK 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 United States Patent Ofiice MULTI-TIERED RACK David Maldon James, Chichester, England Application December 14, 1953, Serial No. 398,167

Claims priority, application Great Britain December 18, 1952 7 Claims. (C1. 211--126) This invention relates to a multi-tiered rack of the kind having a plurality of receptacles or trays mounted in superposition and is concerned with providing an improved rack of this kind having a firm and substantial construction which may be built up into any desired size utilising standard parts.

According to the invention there is provided in a multitiered rack having a plurality of wire mesh trays spaced in series one above the other, a number of composite supporting legs for the trays, each constituted by a plurality of separate spring connecting members adapted to extend respectively between adjoining trays in the series, each of said members comprising an elongated U-shaped loop of folded wire, said loop being cranked near the fold so as to extend in part through an opening defined by the mesh of one tray, and further having its free ends bent over and then returned to form a shoulder which passes through the extending loop part of a similar connecting member engaged in the mesh of a second tray in the series, and hooks which engage under stress the mesh of said second tray, and further comprising a transverse bearing bar which spans the loop adjacent the fold, the arrangement being such that said shoulders and transverse bearing bars of adjoining connecting members form cooperating bearing surfaces whereby the main weight in the trays is transmitted directly through said composite legs to the surface on which the rack is supported.

According to a further feature of the invention there is provided for a multi-tiered wire mesh tray assembly having composite supporting legs, a leg unit comprising a U-shaped spring wire connector formed with a crank near the closed end and a shoulder near the open end, the free extremities of the U-arms being returned over said shoulder to form hooks, and a transverse bearing bar which spans the U-arms adjacent said crank, a number of such units being arranged in prolongation to form a composite leg with the bar on one unit in bearing relationship with the shoulder on the next adjoining unit.

Throughout the specification and claims the term receptacles is intended to include a tray, container, shelf or any other supporting member for goods or articles.

For a better understanding of the invention and to show how the same may be carried into effect, reference will now be made to the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of one form of multitiered rack constructed in accordance with the present invention,

Figures 2 and 3 are perspective views of two modified constructions of spring connectors used in assembling a multi-tiered rack,

Figure 4 is a side view of part of Figure 1,

Figure 5 is a front elevation of a further modified spring connector cooperating with a similar superposed spring connector, the latter, together with the superposedreceptacles, being chain dotted and partially broken away,

Figure 6 is a side elevation of Figure 5,

Figure 7 is a perspective view of part of a multi-tiered rack utilizing the spring connectors illustrated in Figures 5 and 6.

Figure 8 is a side view of part of a further form of multi-tiered rack constructed in accordance with the present invention, and

Figure 9 is a front view of a spring connecting member used in assembling the multi-tiered rack illustrated in Figure 8.

In the constructional form shown in Figures 1 and 4, the spring connecting members of a multi-tiered rack 2 each comprise a folded or looped length of spring wire, the two limbs of the loop being each bent to form three spaced shoulders 3, 4, 5 projecting substantially at right angles along the length and on one side of the connecting member. One such shoulder 3 is formed near the free ends of the limbs which latter are provided at their extremities with backwardly hooked parts 6. The second shoulder 4 is formed substantially half way along the limbs by means of U-s'haped bends in the latter and the third shoulder 5 is provided near the fold or loop at the closed end of the limbs by stepping the aforesaid limbs. A bar 7 extends crosswise near the loop or fold 8 to connect opposite portions of the limbs below the third shoulder and form a reinforcing and bearing member.

The connecting members referred to above are particularly suitable for use with wire receptacles or trays 9 such as are commonly used for documents or letters.

The configuration of the Wire connecting member is such that, the lower looped end 8 can be passed through a mesh in the side wall of a wire receptacle or tray 9, from the outside and also through a mesh in the base of the tray so that the lower or third shoulder 5 projects through the side mesh into the tray and the looped end 8 of the connecting member together with the bar 7 thereon, depends from the bottom of the tray. The U-shaped shoulder 4 of the connecting member then fits into a higher mesh in the tray side wall, also from the outside, thereby preventing displacement of the connecting member; in this position the connecting member stands substantially upright. Upon flexing the upper ends of the connecting member limbs, the hooks 6 at their extremities may be caused to engage one of the wires forming the base of the next higher tray. It will usually be found suflicient to connect a lower tray to the next higher tray by meansof one connecting member at each corner of the lower tray, though if desired, further connecting members may be added to increase the strength of the structure.

The hooked ends 6 of the connecting member limbs are also arranged to pass through that portion of the loop or fold 8 enclosed by the reinforcing bar 7 of a superposed connecting member; the shoulder 3 at the hooked ends of the limbs of the lower member then provides a bearing surface for the said reinforcing bar 7 whereby the main weight in the receptacles will be transmitted through the various aligned connecting members to the surface on which the rack is supported. It will be apparent that, when engaged with a tray, the hooks 6 at the extremities of the limbs are in a stressed condition so that the structure will be firmly interconnected. A circular reinforcing member 10 connects the two limbs of the looped wire near their middle to prevent undue flexing of the structure.

Figure- 2 illustrates a slightly modified spring connecting member 11 in which the circular reinforcing member 10 illustrated in Figures 1 and 4 is dispensed with; it has been found that in relatively short spring connecting members this reinforcement is not required. The remaining configuration of the connecting member is similar to that described and illustrated with reference to Figures 1 and 4.

In a further constructional form illustrated in Figure 3,

' which is adapted to support relatively heavy loads and correspondingly larger trays, the diameter of the material forming each spring connecting member 12 may be increased as necessary. However, to obviate the necessity for any substantial increase in the pitch of the wire mesh forming the receptacles or trays, the spring connecting member 12 is formed with double co-planar loops or folds 13, which are arranged side by side. Each loop or fold is then provided with a transverse reinforcing and bearing bar 14 but the remaining configuration of the connecting member is simlar to those constructional forms described in the foregoing.

The arrangement of this alternative embodiment is such that each of the loops or folds 13 may pass through adjacent meshes in the side wall and bottom of the tray thereby straddling between them that strand of wire separating the aforesaid adjacent meshes. The U-shaped shoulders 15 of the two limbs then project into the tray through the side wall meshes. By flexing the upper ends of the spring connecting member the hooks 16 at the extremities of the limbs may be caused to engage a wire in the bottom of the next higher tray as in the previous case. The hooked ends 16 of the limbs are passed one through each loop or fold 13 enclosed by the associated reinforcing bar 14 of a superposed spring connecting member; the shoulder 17 near the hooked ends of the limbs on the lower member again provides a bearing surface for the reinforcing bars 14 of the higher member as in the previous embodiment.

In the constructional form illustrated in Figures 5, 6 and 7, the trays to be supported are flat and without side walls. In this construction the spring connecting members 18 of a multi-tiered rack 19 are each formed with double co-planar loops or folds 20 arranged side by side. The two exterior limbs 21 of the loops are each bent to form two spaced shoulders 22, 23 projecting along the length and on one side of the connecting member. One shoulder 22 is formed substantially at right angles near the free ends of the limbs 21 which latter are provided at their extremities with backwardly hooked parts 24. A reinforcing bar 25 extends crosswise substantially halfway along the shoulder 22 to connect opposite portions of the limbs 21 and form a reinforcing member. The second shoulder 23 is formed near the loops or folds at the closed end of the limbs 21 by means of Z-shaped bends. A transverse bearing bar 26 connects opposite limbs 21 of the looped wire near the said Z-shaped bends; an optional circular reinforcing member 27 connects the two limbs of looped wire near their middle to obviate undue flexing of the structure.

The configuration of each connecting member 18 is such that the Z-shaped shoulder 23 can hook under the outer rim 28 of the tray from the outside while a lower part of the connecting member defining the loops or folds 20 is directed downwardly to pass through adjacent meshes in the bottom of the tray thereby straddling between them that strand of wire separating the aforesaid adjacent meshes. The bar 26 bears down on the outer rim 28 of the tray. By flexing the upper ends of the spring connecting member the hooks 24 at the extremities of the limbs 21 may be caused to engage a wire in the bottom of the next higher tray in a similar fashion to the previous examples. The hooked ends 24 of the limbs 21 are passed one through each loop or fold 20 of a similar superposed spring connecting member; the bar 26 provided near the lower shoulder 23 provides a hearing surface for the upper shoulder 22 of the next lower member through the intermediary of the outer rim 28 of the tray.

In the final constructional form illustrated in Figures 8 and 9, the trays to be supported are flat with side walls one mesh high. The spring connecting members 29 of a multi-tiered rack 30 are each formed at the lower end with double co-planar loops or folds 31 arranged side by side. The two exterior limbs 32 of the loops are extended and bent to form two spaced shoulders 33,34

projecting along the length and on opposite sides of the connecting member. One shoulder 33 is formed substantially at right angles near the free ends of the limbs 32 which latter are provided at their extremities with backwardly hooked parts 35. A reinforcing bar 36 extends crosswise substantially half-way along the shoulder 33 to connect opposite portions of the limbs 32 and form a reinforcing member. The second shoulder 34 is formed near the loops at the closed end of the limbs 32 by means of U-shaped bends. Each loop or fold 31 is provided with a transverse reinforcing and bearing bar 37, and an optional circular reinforcing member 38 connects the two limbs of looped wire near their middle to obviate undue flexing of the structure.

The arrangement of this constructional form is such that each of the loops or folds 31 may pass through adjacent meshes in the side wall and bottom of the tray 39 thereby straddling between them that strand of wire separating the aforesaid adjacent meshes. The U-shaped shoulder 34 of the two limbs then partially enshrouds and bears on the outer rim 40 of the tray from the outside as shown. By flexing the upper end of the spring connecting member, the hooks at the extremities of the limbs may be caused to engage a wire in the bottom of the next higher tray. To this end the hooked ends 35 of the limbs are passed one through each loop or fold 31 enclosed by the associated reinforcing bar 37 of a superposed spring connecting member. The shoulder 33 near the hooked ends of the limbs on the lower member provides a bearing surface for the reinforcing bars 37 of the higher member.

To facilitate passing the hooked ends 35 of the limbs of a lower spring connecting member through the respective loops or folds 31 of a superposed connecting member, it is first necessary to displace the latter angularly so that the upper end thereof is outwardly directed and the lower looped end thereof inclined inwardly. After the hooks 35 of the lower spring connecting member have been caused to engage the wire in the bottom of the next higher tray, the superposed connecting member is returned to its vertical operative position. The return angular displacement causes the transverse reinforcing bar 37 of the upper member to bear downwardly as aforesaid under pressure on the shoulder 33 near the free ends of the limbs 32 of the lower member; similarly the reinforcing bar 36 on the shoulder 33 of the lower member will bear under pressure on the outside of the lower looped end of the superposed connecting member to form a highly rigid and effective structure by reason of the retained stress and opposing pressures.

I claim:

1. In a multi-tiered rack having a plurality of wire mesh trays spaced in series one above the other, a number of composite supporting legs for the trays, each of said supporting legs constituted by a plurality of separate spring connecting members adapted to extend respectively between adjoining trays in the series, each of said members comprising an elongated U-shaped loop of folded wire, said loop being cranked near the fold so as to extend in part through an opening defined by the mesh of one tray, and further having its free ends bent over to form a shoulder which passes through the extending loop part of a similar connecting member engaged in the mesh of a second tray in the series and then returned to form hooks which engage under stress the mesh of said second tray, and further comprising a transverse bearing bar which spans the loop adjacent the fold, the transverse bearing bars of an upper connecting member being positioned above and bearing downwardly on the shoulder of the next lowest connecting member, whereby the main weight in the trays is transmitted directly through said composite legs to the surface on which the rack is supported.

2. In a multi-tiered rack having a plurality of wire mesh trays spaced in series one above the other, a number of supporting legs, each of said supporting legs comprising at least two superposed spring connecting members, and

each of said members being constituted by an elongated substantially U-shaped loop of folded wire and by a transverse bearing bar spanning the loop adjacent the fold, said loop being cranked near its folded lower end and projected inwardly through a mesh wall and dowry wardly through a mesh base of a lower tray, and further being bent over at its free upper ends to form a shoulder which passes through the projected lower loop end and under the transverse bearing bar of a similar superposed connecting member engaged in the mesh of the netzt higher tray in the series, the extremities of said free loop ends being hooked to engage, under stress, the mesh of the second tray, the transverse bearing bar of an upper connecting member and the shoulder of the next lowest connecting member, on which said bearing bar bears downwardly, cooperating so that the main Weight in the trays is transmitted through said connecting members to the surface on which the rack is supported.

3. A multi-tiered rack as claimed in claim 2, in which each spring connecting member is formed with double co-planar folds at the lower end, the folds being provided with separate aligned transverse bearing bars and being arranged to pass through adjacent meshes in the mesh wall and base of a tray thereby straddling between them that strand of wire separating the aforesaid adjacent meshes.

4. In a multi-tiered rack as claimed in claim 3, a transverse reinforcing bar connecting opposite parts of the wire loop at the upper shoulder of each connecting member, so that the transverse bearing bars on an upper connecting member will bear under pressure on the upper shoulder of the next lower aligned member and similarly the transverse reinforcing bar of the lower member will bear under pressure on the lower looped end of the upper member.

5. In a multi-tiered rack having a plurality of wire mesh trays spaced in series one above the other, a number of supporting legs, each of said supporting legs comprising at least two superposed spring connecting members, and each of said members being constituted by a sub stantially elongated U-shaped loop of wire, formed with double co-planar folds at the lower end, and by a transverse bearing bar closing the loop adjacent the folds, said loop being bent over at its lower end to engage under a rimming edge of a lower tray and being thereafter iz;- clined upwardly and bent downwardly for subsequent insertion through adjacent meshes in said lower tray, and further being bent over and back at its free ends to form a shoulder, which engages under a rimming edge of the next upper tray, and hooks which engage through adjacent meshes of the upper tray, the transverse bearing bar of an upper connecting member resting on and cooperating with the shoulder of the next lower connecting member through the intermediary of said rimming edge whereby the main weight in the trays will be transmitted through said connecting members and rimming edges to the surface on which the rack is supported.

6. In a multi-tiered wire mesh tray assembly, composite supporting leg means, each of said supporting leg means constituted by a plurality of separate spring connecting units arranged to extend in prolongation respectively between adjoining trays in the assembly, each of said connector units comprising an elongated U-shaped wire member formed with a crank near the closed end and a shoulder near the open end, the free extremities of the U-arms being returned over said shoulder to form hooks, and a transverse bearing bar which spans the U-arms adjacent said crank, said units being assembled by projecting the closed cranked end of a first unit through a tray opening and springing the hooked shoulder of said first unit into engagement with a wire of the next adjoining tray through the closed end of a following unit which is similarly projected through said adjoining tray, the shoulders of each unit resting on the bearing bars of a following unit to provide cooperating bearing surfaces whereby the main weight in the trays is transmitted directly through said composite leg means.

7. For a multi-tiered Wire mesh tray assembly having composite supporting legs, a single leg unit comprising a U-shaped spring wire connector formed with a crank near the closed end and a shoulder near the open end, the free extremities of the U-arrns being returned over said shoulder to form hooks, and a transverse bearing bar which spans the U-arms adjacent said crank, said unit being adapted to be arranged in prolongation with other identical units to form a composite leg with the bar on one unit resting on and in bearing relationship with the shoulder on the next adjoining unit.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 987,410 Snyder Mar. 21, 1911 994,984 Dennis June 13, 1911 1,386,878 Lamp Aug. 9, 1921 1,759,645 Janke et al. May 20, 1930 2,460,594 Obernauer et al. Feb. 1, 1949 2,603,361 James July 15, 1949 

